[2] The Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring the nation's supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe and correctly labeled and packaged.

The Under Secretary is selected from among individuals with specialized training or significant experience in food safety or public health programs.

[4] The position was created by the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, signed into law in October 1994.

[6] Previous Under Secretaries include Dr. Mindy Brashears (March 2020–January 2021), Dr. Elisabeth Hagen (August 2010–December 2013), Richard Allen Raymond (July 2005–January 2009), Elsa A. Murano (October 2001–December 2004) and Catherine Woteki (July 1997–January 2001).

The then-incumbent Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator, Mike Taylor, became the acting Under Secretary from October 1994 to November 1996.